Just home after a very merry pre-Christmas afternoon at Home Park. Firstly, don't look at the league table and assume Dagenham were a pushover. They have some big ones and some fast ones and pass the ball well. With Hartley and Nelson both missing from the back three, Argyle looked nervous at the back to start with and Dagenham started with a flurry. After 10 minutes or so, Argyle got more of a grip but both sides kept the ball down in a game of cat & mouse. Although the passing was there on both sides, Argyle looked the more penetrative on the break and this proved so true when Dagenham lost the ball 20 yards from the Argyle goal. Little Reid swept the ball out to Alessandra with a sublime pass. Alessandra got far enouth ahead of the defender to cut it back across to Big Reid who dispatched it coolly. From one end to the other and into the net in two passes and half a dozen paces, cutting Dagenham to ribbons. I don't think Dagenham ever recovered from the horror of what had been done to them. Right afterwards Argyle nearly scored again when Little Reid shot over after another glorious move. From there on in it was one way traffic. Some of the passing drew ooohs and aaahs, Little Reid got a good goal and the Dagenham defenders got so frustrated by Alessandra's movement & running with the ball that they resorted to kicking his legs out from under him in the box. Despite what looked like sledging from a Dagenham defender while the ref fussed around for 5 minutes before the kick could be taken, Big Reid slotted it home as if he had nothing better to do. Argyle were denied another stonewall penalty just before the end but it hardly mattered. The ref was excellent at managing throw ins. Man of the match: McCormick, O'Connor, McHugh, Bentley, Mellor, Cox, Reid, Norburn, Kellett, Alessandra, Reid
Agree with all that NotDistant. Must admit I was slightly nervous when Hartley apparently 'did a hamstring' in the warm up, but the makeshift defence did very well and dealt with everything D&R could muster. D&G were a better side than I expected - big, strong and some pretty decent footballers among them. Apart from a very odd refereeing performance it was a thoroughly enjoyable match. B Reid MOTM for me- Bristol City must have some great players if he cant get a game with them, or has he simply found his level (for now). He clearly enjoys being here so lets just hope we can tie him into a deal until at least the end of the season.
Excellent game to watch and excellent result but time for a bit of critical examination today so as to balance the opening statement. My comment after 10 minutes or so was that this match could easily be won on the back of who made the biggest mistake. Some of the football was good but other stuff was edgy to say the least. Argyle could have been one down in minutes and maybe even two down. Errors at the back were quite glaring. However, the goal Argyle scored was pretty decent and as said above Dagenham were cut to ribbons by slick passing and movement. I thought the first half was about 50/50 and it could easily have been a draw. They were not outplayed but the Ref had sort of set the standard of his day during the period. He was fecking aweful. The lino on the lyndhurst side was as bad having missed every possible off side he could miss. I have to say that Bobby Reid did more wrong in the first half than right. More to the point a good deal just didn't come off for him and if looked like he was going to have one of those days. His pass to start the goal was indeed a peach and one of the few things that went right. Second half is when Argyle normally shut up shop and defend given that two halfs are seldom the same. But, to their credit they didn't this time and if anything stepped up their game. At 2 - 0 I thought Argyle were well worth it. They had begun to play better and pass it well including Bobby Reid who improved no end. Now the penalty was in a blind spot for me there being several players between me and the deed. It looked very soft and I did doubt why the Ref gave it. He did and Rueben did his bit. After that as said previously there was an absolute nailed on penalty and how it wasn't given god only knows along with the Ref. There were so many stupid decisions either made or blatantly not made that this Ref ought to hang up his whistle in shame. He was truely aweful today. On one occasion he blew when Argyle clearly had a total advantage and probably might have scored. He brought the play back for no obvious reason and gave Argyle a free kick. Bizaar doesn't do that one justice. I was a bit concerned that the back 3 had been mullered before kick off but have to say should not have been. I was never that convinced Dagenham could score and I thought all of the backs played well. That included Bentley who when announced I had to say "Who". He looked decent and wasn't phased by anything including when Dagenham brought on their beast and he promptly sat on Bentley's shoulder. He clearly had earmarked the novice but didn't reckon on him being better than he thought. Good start to the Christmas period and well worth the effort to attend today. Thoroughly enjoyed the game despite the officials.
What, no seasonal cheerfulness Sensible? You aren't wrong though, I was worried I was going to witness the second home defeat fro the first 15 or so. Bentley looked pretty startled by his last minute selection and the crowd started to moan at his poor distribution. Gradually he got into it though and for the final 60 minutes it was business as usual with waves of Dagenham attacks unable to disturb the deep-lying Argyle back 8 and sudden sharp counter attacks knocking the stuffing out of them on the break. By the end they were arguing with ref non stop and with each other and didn't seem to know where the next attack was going to come from. When the penalty went in, they looked so shattered I could see a 5-0 thumping coming up but it wasn't to be. Bentley is going to be a big lad when he gets out of short trousers.... A very creditable attendance of 7,176 on the last shopping Saturday before Xmas and well done to the 26 from Dagenham.
Thanks for the reports chaps, plodding along nicely aren't we, I'm coming down for the Oxford match and to visit family for a couple of days, in that order!
It's illegal to be drunk in a football ground and it is expected that the report will be posted within 30 minutes of the final whistle (no pressure). It should be almost impossible to get that drunk in that short a time so the point is not valid as it cannot apply. The alternative answer is "no". The reason my posts have been late is due to it being lyndhurst's job and I only post an attempt when he lets the side down.
I will have a house full of relatives and their offspring on the day of the oxford match (although 5 of us are using the match as an excuse to get out of the house) so the chances of me posting anything remotely intelligent until at least 24 hours later are extremely remote.
We are used to the standard of your posts lyndhurst so we probably wouldn't notice anyway......boom boom. As opposed to an excuse to get out of the house I stand no chance of being allowed to stay in so don't need to find a reason. Can't understand why she wants me out for several hours but hey ho there it is.
